Sea Monkeys: A Trip Down Memory Lane

As a child, did you ever have strange laboratory pets that were a mix of fun and confusion? I didn't even know about them well beyond a pet rock toy, and thought they sounded like a joke before the internet age. If you've ever wondered what they were, or looked them up, you might have found them a bit weird and even a little unethical.

What Are Sea Monkeys?

Sea monkeys are a type of pet brine shrimp that are marketed to children as fun and educational creatures. Unlike other pets, they are often sold in small packages as toys, rather than being labeled as pets. While they might have seemed interesting as a child, the idea of them being sold as toys rather than pets raises some ethical questions, especially when it comes to children not realizing their true nature.

My Childhood Experience with Sea Monkeys

When I was six, I discovered sea monkeys for sale at a Canadian toy store that no longer exists. Ever since I saw them in the back of comic books, I had always been fascinated by the idea of having this strange pet. Excitedly, I purchased a package and brought it home. Following the instructions carefully, I poured water and packets into a plastic aquarium. Then, a few days later, the sea monkeys appeared! By the dozens! I fed them faithfully every day, eagerly watching them grow and multiply.

Then one day, my sister invited a girl from down the street to play. As she reached for the lone sea monkey in the aquarium, she accidentally bumped the shelf, causing the aquarium to crash into a metal waste paper basket. I screamed and cried, just like if someone had shot my dog. My mom came and tried to save the sea monkey, but when she found it, it was floating lifelessly. I ran outside and sat on the playset, swinging back and forth, sobbing words that a six-year-old shouldn't say, and even shed a few tears at school later that day.

Discoveries Later in Life

In my later years, I made two significant discoveries. During the last town reunion, the girl from down the street came back, and the only thing she could remember about the town was killing a kid's pet. I almost forgave her, but then I thought she might think it was crazy.

Secondly, just down the road from where I lived is a resort village with a saltwater lake so salty that you could float in it. On the beach, there was a house that was used as a processing plant for decades but is now closed. I finally asked my dad what they processed, and he said, "brine shrimp." That's when I realized those sea monkeys I had as a child were actually thriving in a local brine shrimp processing plant.

Conclusion

Sea monkeys are a nostalgic part of childhood for many, but they also raise interesting questions about ethics and the way we market pets to children. If you ever come across them, take a moment to ponder on their true nature and the stories they might tell.